About

You want to write a book that keeps readers turning pages late into the night.

Except, you're not sure how to go from the mess of words on your computer to a book that readers can't put down.

I can help you finish your current novel and master the skills you need to build your writing career.

Hi! I’m Lori Puma.

I work with authors who dream of writing a series of bestselling books and quitting their day jobs to become full-time writers.

I'm a Story Grid Certified developmental editor. That means I help writers turn half-finished manuscripts into publishable, page-turning books.

Where it all started

The only thing I liked more than stories as a kid, was trying to change people’s behavior. When I was in fourth grade, I wrote a report on the dangers of smoking. I gave it to my dad to persuade him to quit.

It didn’t work.

I thought it was because I didn’t know the science well enough. So, I went on to get a Master’s and a PhD in public health, reading and performing stories on the side.

Why your fourth grade self shouldn't run your adult life

In graduate school, I discovered that I had made a mistake. Scientists were incredible at describing what people do, not at persuading them to act differently.

I started looking for the people who were persuasive.

Professionally, I took jobs at nonprofits and eventually landed in tech startups.

I worked as a marketer and as a product designer of analytics software for marketers. I used numbers and data to communicate and tell stories. I learned what kinds of products customers love, earned millions of pageviews for my company, and had my work featured on big name media sites like the LA Times and the Washington Post.

The fine art of learning how to NOT be an asshole

Personally, I looked for people that could help me change. Because after years of pursuing a career that didn't work out, I was frustrated and bitter. I blamed the people around me, but I suspected that I was also part of the problem.

I found nonviolent communication. It's a system that doesn't let you blame anyone else, because it forces you to take responsibility for your own behavior. Which sounds awful. But it turns out that learning to handle yourself is the secret to getting people to care about what you have to say.

And then...

I fell in love with my nonviolent communication teacher. (You would have too! He was that good.) But he was sick. He died a year after we got together.

At his funeral, I realized that he had inspired half a dozen people to change. To go after their dream job. To take steps to deal with their anger issues. To say what they really meant.

And the crazy thing is, he did it through listening to people's stories.